[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S632-S633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO PASTOR DOUGLAS P. JONES

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Pastor 
Douglas P. Jones of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church of Pontiac, MI, 
as the congregation and the Pontiac community celebrate his 30th 
pastoral anniversary.
  Pastor Jones moved from his native Cincinnati in 1989 to Pontiac, MI, 
to assume leadership of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church. Under his 
guidance, membership at Welcome Missionary Baptist Church grew from a 
few hundred to more than 4,000 worshippers. From the very beginning of 
his tenure at the church, Pastor Jones has worked tirelessly to 
implement a vision of unity and kindness, bringing worshippers together 
so that they may find strength in their community and, with that 
strength, work toward positive change throughout the Pontiac area.
  His focus on ensuring that church members' needs are met can be seen 
in

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the number and diversity of ministries established at Welcome. In 
support of his younger members, Pastor Jones created both the Young Men 
Making a Difference Ministry for preteen and teenage boys, as well as 
the Teen Esteem Ministry for preteen and teenage girls. Pastor Jones 
has endeavored to create resources for the most vulnerable members of 
the Welcome community such as the T.I.P.--Tots, Infants, and 
Preschoolers--ministry, which looks after the congregation's youngest 
members, the Exodus Dependency Program, which assists those contending 
with problems relating to substance abuse and HIV, and the Domestic 
Violence Ministry.
  Pastor Jones has not limited his dedication to service to the members 
of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church but, rather, extended his 
unwavering faith and generosity to the broader Pontiac community. He 
has been fundamental in the positive growth seen throughout the city 
over the last 30 years. He has served on committees, boards, and 
partnerships in support of the community, including the Pontiac Youth 
Assistance, the NAACP North Oakland Medical Center, and the Woodward 
Dream Cruise, Inc., to name only a few. Seeing a lack of unity among 
those trying to create change, Pastor Jones founded the Greater Pontiac 
Community Coalition, a federation of over 190 Oakland County 
individuals, community groups, clergy, elected officials, and 
businesses that work together to encourage positive change on the 
individual, social, and institutional level through advocacy and 
community action. Pastor Jones has further been a driving force behind 
helping the students of Pontiac achieve their goals of pursuing higher 
education. Under his guidance the Pontiac Promise Zone Scholarship 
Program was created, which has given many Pontiac students the chance 
to obtain the financial aid necessary to pursue their dreams of higher 
education in the State of Michigan.
  Since his arrival in 1989, Pastor Jones has been a source of strength 
and good will for all those in the Pontiac community. He is often 
called upon to act as a consensus builder among groups and people of 
different perspectives, preaching partnership and cooperation in order 
to inspire success and transformation. He has worked tirelessly in 
pursuit of what he thinks is best for the community and has done so 
while spreading a message of morality and kindness.
  I have no doubt that the congregation at Welcome Missionary Baptist 
Church is proud to call Pastor Jones their leader and celebrate his 
many accomplishments over the last 30 years. I am grateful to Pastor 
Jones for his friendship and for his selflessness in serving the 
residents of Pontiac and surrounding area. I wish Pastor Jones, First 
Lady JoAnn, and their family continued happiness and success as they 
continue to work for the betterment of the community.

                          ____________________